[SOLVED] Virtual consoles in vmware player

smilemukul · 08-10-2010, 02:03 PM

I had installed vmware player in my windows 7 OS. How to work on virtual consoles in vmware player were I had installed linux.

Thanks

paulsm4 · 08-10-2010, 02:21 PM

Q: Does <Alt-F1> work when your VM has focus (or your VM is full-screen)?

Q: Is your VM running Ubuntu? If so, try this:

Quote:

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/ubunt...-vmware-guest/

If you are running an Ubuntu guest in VMware, you may have found that you cannot switch into the Console mode using Ctrl+Alt+F1. If you try, you will encounter a blank screen and won’t see a login prompt at all.

There’s an easy workaround for this, but it’s not an obvious one. I’ll have to thank larstr on IRC for this tip.

Open up /boot/grub/menu.lst using the following command (or use your favorite editor)

Code:

sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst

Find the section that looks like this:

Code:

## ## End Default Options ##

title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.17-10-386
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.17-10-386 root=UUID=8312b3d9-e087-439b-8f3b-21f4b00434f1 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.17-10-386
savedefault
boot

Remove “splash” from the kernel line. Save the file, and reboot.

You should now be able to switch to console mode by using Ctrl+Alt+F1 (or F2-F6)

'Hope that helps .. PSM

smilemukul · 08-11-2010, 01:55 PM

No that didn't work with ALT-F1 or ALT-CLT-F1 as when I select these function keys, I will be switched back to my windows 7 OS. My vmware is running redhat linux 5. I am able to work in the terminal in the gui mode but not able to switch to virtual console
(F1 TO F7.

Thanks

paulsm4 · 08-12-2010, 12:33 AM

Hi -

It *should* work like I said. And, AFAIK, none of the Linux alt keys are used by VMWare (like, for example, VMWare's "<Ctl-Alt-Ins>").

NEVERTHELESS...

One more suggestion:
1. Install putty on Windows

2. Knock yourself out with as many text-mode (putty) sessions as you want

(assuming, of course, you're using bridged or NAT networking with your VM)

'Hope that helps .. PSM

smilemukul · 08-13-2010, 11:20 AM

Thanks for your response but I am unable to establish putty connection with vmware as using bridged or NAT networking with your VM.

Also as per your above statement,
Remove “splash” from the kernel line. Save the file, and reboot.
I can switch to virtual console if I had installed redhat linux.

Appreciate for any respose.
Thanks

smilemukul · 08-17-2010, 01:22 PM

Still not working.

Any responce will be appreciated.

Thanks

paulsm4 · 08-17-2010, 01:54 PM

Hi -

Again, (in theory, at least

) you should be able to use virtual consoles. But there are several (completely different) reasons why they might not be working. And so far, nothing we've tried seems to have worked.

Sooooooooo ......

Let's step back for a moment and look at alternatives.

Q: Why exactly do you want/need "virtual consoles"?
<= Knowing the "context" might help suggest a good alternative

Q: What exactly went wrong when you tried putty?

Q: Can you "ping" your VM from Windows 7?

Thanx in advance .. PSM

jfsylvain · 08-17-2010, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smilemukul

No that didn't work with ALT-F1 or ALT-CLT-F1 as when I select these function keys, I will be switched back to my windows 7 OS. My vmware is running redhat linux 5. I am able to work in the terminal in the gui mode but not able to switch to virtual console
(F1 TO F7.

Thanks

ctrl-alt-space, release space, f1

paulsm4 · 08-18-2010, 01:28 AM

jfsylvain -

Good call! Thank you!

http://www.electrictoolbox.com/vmware-ctrl-alt-f1/

sem007 · 08-18-2010, 01:51 AM

You can also use chvt command to switch between terminal.

Code:

# chvt 1

then 

ALT-F1 to F6  <- switch terminal
ALT-F7     <- switch command console to graphich

smilemukul · 08-19-2010, 11:30 AM

sem007 -->

Thanks for the info, its working now but after switching through chvt 1 command, i am able to switch through chvt(1 to 7) command from the shell but from the keyboard only ALT-F6 function key is working.

Is there any keyboad setting need to be done for the function keys.

Thanks

smilemukul · 08-25-2010, 11:10 AM

Thanks friends, I am able to switch the function keys(F1 TO F7) through the combination of FN & ALT key + F(1 to 7).

Thanks